Top U.S. Commander in Greenland Fired After Disavowing Vance’s Remarks on Denmark

The U.S. military has dismissed the commander of its Arctic outpost in Greenland after she appeared to distance herself from Vice President JD Vance’s criticism of Denmark—igniting a rare clash between military leadership and the White House.

Col. Susannah Meyers, who led Pituffik Space Base, was officially removed due to a “loss of confidence in her ability to lead,” according to a statement from U.S. Space Operations Command. Her dismissal followed an internal email in which she suggested Vance’s remarks during a recent visit were not representative of the base’s views.

During a high-profile trip to Greenland in late March, Vice President Vance accused Denmark of neglecting Greenlanders and underinvesting in Arctic security. He also revived former President Donald Trump’s controversial idea of annexing the territory for strategic purposes.

Shortly after the visit, Col. Meyers reportedly emailed base personnel, writing:

“I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base.”

The message was obtained and published by Military.com, which said the U.S. Space Force confirmed its authenticity.

In a social media post referencing the article, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell strongly indicated the email was the reason behind Col. Meyers’ dismissal, stating:

“Actions [that] undermine the chain of command or subvert President Trump’s agenda will not be tolerated at the Department of Defense.”

Col. Shawn Lee, a former squadron commander at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska, has been appointed as her replacement.

The Space Force added in a follow-up statement that commanders are expected to remain nonpartisan in their duties and maintain the highest standards of conduct.

The political ripples from Vance’s comments haven’t stopped at the base. In the days following his visit, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenlandic leaders stood together in a public show of unity.

“You can’t annex other countries,” Frederiksen told reporters, addressing Trump and Vance’s revived ambitions head-on. She also pledged stronger military support in the Arctic and emphasized Denmark’s readiness to cooperate with the U.S.—short of ceding sovereignty.

Greenland—though sparsely populated—is a geopolitical hot spot. The U.S. has maintained a military presence there since World War II, viewing it as a critical early-warning point for missile attacks from adversaries like Russia.

“If Russia were to send missiles towards the U.S., the shortest route for nuclear weapons would be via the North Pole and Greenland,” explained Marc Jacobsen, an expert at the Royal Danish Defence College.

The Pituffik Space Base is one of the most strategically vital outposts in the U.S. defense system.

Greenland has been under Danish rule for nearly three centuries but enjoys autonomous status. While most Greenlanders support full independence, polls show little interest in joining the United States.

Since 2009, Greenland has held the legal right to call an independence referendum. With political momentum building, some parties are pushing for that vote to happen sooner rather than later.